Firing key



' various 'changes in yof brass, is inserted Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFF-lcs JOSEPH B. FEDER, VO11" EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE .ASSIGN- MENTS, TO CHAS. OORY CORPORATION, A, CORPORATION OF NEW YORK I FIRING- KEY Applicat-oniled October ,'16, 1928. Serial No. 312,786.

This invention is an improvement 'infiring keys, and more particularly to keys of the quick break type.

One of the primary objects of the 4present invention is the provision of rotatable mech- 'anism for operating the movable contacts,

wherein a springis utilized to move them in kone direction, and plunger operated mechanism to move them in another direction.

Another object is the provision of means for converting the reclprvocatory movement V-of the plunger into rotating movement in a direction to tension the spring, which by its contraction, moves the movable contacts Yangularly into engagement with the fixed conagainst the elements.

With theseand other objects -in'view the Vinvention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter, illustrated in the acccompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. v In the drawing forming a part hereof Fig; 1 is a longitudinal section of an embodiment of the invention.

Figs. 2, 3y 4, 5 and 6 are sections on the lines 2 2, .s a, 4-4., 5-.5 and ee of Fig. 1.

Fig. '6a is an enlarged detail lin section showing the connection of the buttons 21'to the brackets 18. Y

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are reduced. plan views, showing proved key.

l th t mb l'me t of the inven-. Y

n e presen 'e OC l n faxis of the tube 15, 1n a hub v14, and in la cuption, the improved key includes a cylindrical casing 1, usually of brass, threadedat each end. A terminal tube 2, also and the end 8 of the cable is removably held inthe terminal tube. The tube, as shown, has

different mountings for the im and internally in one end of the casing,

an internal annular shoulder 4, and surroundling the end of the cable within which is arranged the leads 5 and 5a of the electric circuit, is a .Gasket y6, held between the shoulder and a ring 7 at the inner end of a collar 8 which is threaded into the Aterminal tube.

Y With this arrangement the cable is heldV firmly in place in the terminal tube, while at the same time it is easily removed, when desired, for any purpose. The leads 5 and' 5a pass to connection with lugs 10, on terminal Vplates 12 and 13, which are mounted on a terminal block 14 held in an insulating tube 1,5 in the casing. It will be noticed referring to Fig. 1, that the'block is secured to the tube 15 by means of screws 16, and each of the terminal plates is connected by screw 17 with `ixed contact ymechanism mounted on the opposite face ofthe block. The said mechanism includes an angle bar18` for each contact. plate, the .screw 17 firmly connecting 'the' angle bar with the terminal plate.

Each of the angle bars has one of its portions resting on the 4block 14, and the vother extending parallel with the axis of the casthis portion of'each angle bar by clips 20, and the opposite face of each of the saidportion of the angl bar is provided with contact buttons 21.

The Contact buttons21 are composed of 'a l" tungsten facing braZed to a base of 'suitable material. A stud 22 is rigid with each button, jan'd each stud has ya loose or rockingv connecf tion with thebracket 18 and a conducting connection with the adjacent pigtail, thus Vto provide electrical connection between the con- .tact button and the pigtail. The rocking action referred to may be by means ofa slight clearance of theredu'ced portionv 22a'of the.

ing. A pigtail 19 of copper braid is -held on stud 22 in its hole in bracket 18 as shown in the enlarged detail, Fig. 6a or by any other suitable means. lThe fixed' contacts 4are at opposite sides of a shaft 23, journaled at the 24: on ther-block versely of the casing at the end of thetube 15. v The fixed contacts areadapted to be connected, to close the circuit, by Ameans of contact vbuttons 26 on `wings 27 extending in opshaped block 25 held transposite directions from the shaft 23. The contact buttons 26 are similar to the buttons 21, including a tungsten facing secured to a suitable base, and the bases or wings 27 are electrically connected, so that when the buttons 26 are in contact with the buttons 21, the circuit is closed through the conductors 5 and 5a.

The shaft 23 extends through the block 25, which is of insulating material, and is provided With ahead 28 within the depression of the cup, the said depression facing away from the contacts. The head 28 has a cam shaped extension 29 for a purpose to be presently described, and the extension has a pin 30, eX-

tending axial to the shaft 23, but eccentric thereto because of the head and the extension.

A second shaft 31 is j ournaled in a bearing 32 in an inner tube 33 in the casing, the said inner tube extending from the end of the tube 15 to the gland 34 of brass, which closes the end'of the casing remote from the terminal tube 2. At the end of the shaft 31 adjacent the shaft 23, a head 35 is provided, and the head has a radial extension 36. Upon the extension is a pin 37 parallel with the pin 30, and the pins are connected by a spring 38.

Stop pins 40 and 41 are provided on the bearing 32 for engagement by the extension 36 of the head 35, and the pin 41 is also adapted for engagement by the extension 29 of the head 28. The pins are arranged substantially 180o apart, and they limit the angular movement of the shaft 31 to 180o less the width of the extension 36. vThe movement of the shaft 23 is limited in one direction by the engagement of the Contact buttons 26 with the buttons 21, and in the opposite direction by the engagement of the extension 29 with the pin 41. I

It will beV apparent from the description that when the shaft 31 is oscillated by mechy anism to be presently described', in a direction to move the extension from engagement with the pin 41 to engagement with the pin 40, the pin 37 will be moved to and beyond a position Where it is in a diametrical line with the pin 30, thus putting the spring 38 under tension.

As the pin 37 passes the point where it is 180 from the pin 30, the resiliency of the spring operating on the pin 30, will cause a very rapid angular movement of the shaft 23 in a direction to engage the contact buttons 26 with the buttons 21. cle the studs 22 before mentioned, and act normally to hold the contact'buttons 21 radial to the Shaft 23, that is, in position to be engaged squarely by the buttons 26, and the rocking connection between the stud 22 and the bracket 18 enables some change in position of the buttons 21 to insure close and ac- Y curate engagement.

Springs 39 encirengaging between the adjacent ends of the tubes 15 and 33, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The shaft 31 is rotated in the present instance from a shaft 416 journaled diametrical of the casing in a filler 42 held in the tube 33, and the abutting at its inner end the bearing 32. This filler is a rack guide for racks to be presently described, and the shaft 415 is provided with two miter gears 43 loosely journaled thereon. I

Both gears mesh with a similar gear 44 on the shaft 31. rihe gears 43 are on opposite sides of the gear 44, and a spur gear or pinion 45 is arranged on and secured to the hub of each miter gear 43, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. A block 46 is mounted to move toward and from the filler 42, and the block carries a pair of racks 47, each of Which engages one of the spur gears 45. Referring to F ig. 3, it will be noticed that the racks 47 are arranged on opposite sides of the shaft 41, so that the movement of the racks toward the bearing 32 will act upon the shaft 31 in thefsame direction.

The block 46 is moved in one direction by means of a plunger 48 provided at its opposite ends with heads 49 and 50. rlfhe plunger eX- tends through the gland 34, and a packing 51 held by a nut 52 is provided for the plunger in the gland. rifhe plunger is held from rotating movement with respect to the gland by means of a pin 53 extending radially therefrom, and moving in a slot 54 in the nut, and a spring 55 is arranged between the nut and the packing. The inner head 49 of the plunger engages a similarly shaped depression 56 in the block 46. When the head 50 of the plunger is pressed toward the casing, the block 46 and the racks 47 will rotate the miter gears 43, which in turn will rotate the shaft 31, and cause the movement of the shaft 23 as above set forth.

riihe block 46 is moved outward by means of springs 58, arranged between the same and -the bearing 32. Each spring encircles a pin 59 held by the block 46, and passes through an opening 59a in the filler to engagement with the bearing. It will be noticed referring to -Figs 1 and 5, that the contacts 26 are connected by a iin 66, the fin forming a conducting connection between them. Y

4In Figs. 7, 8 and 9, different forms of mounting for the improved firing key as shown. In Fig. 7, the mounting is of the director type. The firing key similar to that of Fig. 1, and indicated generally at 61, is provided at the end adjacent the plunger 48 with a piston grip 62. An operating lever 63 is pivoted to the grip, and one end of the lever.

overlies the head of the plunger.

The other end of the lever is in position to be engaged by one of the arms of a U-shaped trigger 64, pivoted to the grip at 65. A guard 66 is provided for the trigger. It is apparent that the key may be held and aimed like a pistol, and fired by pressing the trigger 64 v In Fig. 8, the mounting is of the hand wheel type. In this arrangement a bracket 67 1s secured to the firing key indicated generally at 68 intermediate its ends. A threaded stud 69 extends from the bracket, and the stud is engaged by a nut 70, locked vthereto by means of a cotter pin 71. A spacer 72 of brass or the like, is arranged r on the stem between the nut and the bracket. In Fig. 9, the mounting is designed for connecting the key to a perisoope, the connection being made by a bracket 73 secured to the firing key, indicated generally at 74.

The operation of the key is as follows. With the parts in the position of Fig. 1, when it is desired to close the circuits through the leads 5-5a, the plunger 48 is depressed. The

racks 47 rotate the bevel gears 43 in opposite directions, and the gears cooperate to rotate the shaft 31. The spring 38 is put under tension by the movement of the pin 37 from the position of Fig. 4, anticlock-wise to a position directly opposite and in the-same diametrical line with the pin 30.

Immediately that the pin 37 passes this po-int, the spring quickly contracts,swinging the extension 29 toward the stop 40, and bringing the movable contacts into sudden quick and close contact with the contacts 21, thus providing a shortcircuit between the oppositely arranged movable contacts. `The movement of the extension 36 continues until it engages the pin 40. When the plunger 48 is released, the springs 58 return it to the position of Fig. 1, and at the same time rotate the shaft 31 in the opposite direction, to return the extension 36 to the Fig. 4 position, and the movable contacts 26 to the Fig. 5 position. That is, the return movement of the plunger 48 again tensions the spring 38, and returns the sha-ft 23 to the normal position shown in Fig. 5.

What is claimed as new is l. In a firing key construction, oppositely arranged fixed contacts, a shaft journaled between the contacts and provided with electrically connected contacts extending radially from the shaft, and positioned to simultaneously engage the fixed contacts when the shaft is rotated in one direction, thereby to close the circuit, resilient means to oscillate the shaft, a reciprocatory plunger, and means interposed between the plunger and the shaft to tension the resilient means during the first part of the movement of the plunger in either direction and to release said means during the last part of its movement, thereby to impart an accelerated motion to the shaft, said means including a shaft in alinement with the first named shaft, and spaced apart therefrom, heads on the adjacent ends of the shafts, the resilient means being connected to the heads eccentrically with respeet to the shafts, and means for converting the reciprocatory motion of the plunger into rotary movement of the last named shaft.

2. In a firing key construction, oppositely arranged fixed contacts, a shaft journaled between the contacts and provided with elec,- trically connected contacts extending radially from the shaft, and positioned to simultaneously engage the fixed contacts when the shaft is rotated in one direction, thereby to close the circuit, resilient means to oscillate the shaft, a reciprocatory plunger, and means interposed between the plunger and the shaft to tension the resilient means during the first part of the movement of the plunger in either direction and to release said means during the last part of its movement, thereby to impart an accelerated motion to the shaft, said means including a shaft in alinement with the first named shaft, and spaced apart therefrom, heads on the adjacent ends of the shafts, the resilient means being connected to the heads eccentrically with respectto the shafts, and means for converting the reciprocatory motion of the plunger into rotary movement of the last named shaft, the plunger adapted to be manually moved in one direction, and springs for moving it in the opposite direction.

3. In a firing key construction, oppositely arranged fixed contacts, a shaft journaled between the contacts and provided with oppositely arranged wings carrying electrically connected contacts to simultaneously engage the fixed contacts, thereby to connect the same when the shaft is rotated, a second shaft,

means to rotate said second shaft, and a resilient connection between the shafts put under tension by the rotation of the second shaft during the first part of its movement, whereby to impart a snap movement to the first shaft, the means for rotating the second shaft including a plunger movable axially of the shaft, and means interposed between the plunger and the second shaft for rotating said shaft when the plunder is moved axially.

Signed at New York (Iity, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 11th day of October, A. D. 1928.

JOSEPH B. FEDER. 

